Assembly of molding strips adapted to mount flexible coverings on support surfaces

ABSTRACT

A molding strip assembly is provided to secure a flexible covering on a support surface. The assembly includes a molding element attachable to the surface, and a mounting element that snap-fits into and is secured by the molding element. Each molding element has a retaining channel to lockably receive a latching structure that projects downwardly from a support wall of the mounting element. The covering may extend along the support wall and be retained by the latching structure. Prefabricated contour elements may be used at angular intersections of two or more molding elements, and an optional base molding element may be used to form routing channels for electrical wires. Molding strip assemblies are combined into framework systems to cover wall or other surface areas with great flexibility of design.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the attachment of flexible coverings toa support surface, such as a wall and the like. Of specific interest isthe ability to mount flexible fabrics onto interior walls in a quickconvenient manner that provides a variety of design possibilities whileenhancing the acoustic and thermal characteristics of the wall. Thisinvention includes the structure of the molding strip assembly alongwith a system of molding strip assemblies and contour elements to definea framework that secures a flexible covering over an area to be covered.As such, the present invention is developed as an improvement over apending application entitled Moulding Strips and Assembly Thereof forMounting a Flexible Covering Onto a Support Surface, Ser. No. 705,796,filed Feb. 26, 1985 by the inventor of the present application.

Flexible wall coverings, such as fabric coverings, have enjoyedincreasing popularity in recent times, even though the use of flexiblecoverings has origins centuries ago. The potential for such coverings toenhance the thermal and acoustic properties of a surface has alsostimulated the desirability of flexible wall coverings, especially inconjunction with insulating materials and acoustical materials as partof a fabric covering system. With the increased popularity of thesematerials, designers have demanded increasing flexibility in presentingan asthetic covering. Thus, designers are always seeking to reach beyondthe limitations of existing techniques to achieve different "looks".

In the prior art, there have generally been two techniques to mountflexible coverings over a support surface. The first of these techniquesutilizes an adhesive that may be spread over the support surface withthe flexible covering being relatively permanently adhered to thesupport surface such in the manner of wall paper. Although thistechnique securely mounts the covering to a wall surface, it has severaldrawbacks. First, as a result of its relative permanency, the removal ofthe flexible covering often damages the wall thus necessitating costlyrepairs. Further, any imperfections in the wall surface will showthrough the fabric or flexible material attached by the adhesive.

The second technique, and the technique to which this invention isdirected, employs a framework of mounting strips or moldings whichextend around and across the area to be covered. The flexible coveringis secured to the mounting strips without being directly adhered to thewall surface. While this molding frame systems provide a structure thatis less damaging to the wall surface, it has been found difficult toreleasably and reliably secure the covering to the framework in a tautmanner that avoids sagging or puckering of the fabric after a period ofextended use. The above-referenced patent application, as well as thepresent invention, is specifically directed to solving this problem.

In addition to the above-referenced application, another frameworksystem is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,657,850, issued Apr. 25, 1972 toBillarant. In this system, a molding strip is provided that includes astorage channel positioned adjacent an attachment flange or "sole" whichmay be used to attach the molding strip to the support surface.Cooperating filaform elements are provided on the web of the flexiblecovering so that they may be positively engaged by hooking elements onthe sole. After such engagement, the marginal edge of the flexiblematerial is stuffed through a narrow inlet and stored in a channel. Thecovering is retained in the channel by the narrow inlet. A T-shapedspline may be used to enhance the gripping force of the inlets jaws togive further strength to this retaining structure.

Another prior art structure is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,018,260,issued Apr. 19, 1977 to Baslow, and supplemented by U.S. Pat. No.4,053,008, issued Oct. 11, 1977 also issued to Baslow. In the assemblyshown in these two patents, a framework of molding pieces is describedwhich, when assembled, defines a pair of enclosed channels that extendaround the periphery of an area to be covered by a flexible fabric. Theinner channel forms a locking channel by having an upwardly disposedinlet which receives a looped portion of the fabric. A compressablespline may be forced into the inlet to resiliently trap the loop offabric therein, and the excess edge portion of the fabric is thentrained over the upper surface of the outer channel and stuffed throughan inlet so that excess fabric is stored.

In U.S. Pat. No. 4,197,686, issued Apr. 15, 1980, also issued to Baslow,yet another framework system is disclosed using molding strips that areattached to the wall by an attachment flange. In this system, a singlestorage channel is provided which has an inlet opening forming a pair ofjaws oriented at the edge of the molding opposite the flange. Here, thematerial is trained over the upper surface of the storage channel andinserted through the gripping jaws so that it may be retained therein.As is the case with all of these inlet systems, a problem of slippagemay occur should substantial tension be placed on the material, withslippage also being possible with a change of materials.

In U.S. Pat. No. 3,833,046, issued Sept. 3, 1974 to Tombu, matingprofile elements are provided that clamp to one another to retain aflexible covering to a wall, with this system also being directed toenclosing an area of a wall surface. In the Tombu patent, a pair ofchannels is formed by a two-piece construction so that an inner channeldefines a storage region for a loop of flexible covering. The tension ofthe loop of the covering may be enhanced by the inclusion of a splinethat is forced into this channel to hold the loop therein. An outerchannel adjacent the outer edge of the area to be covered provides astorage region such that a trailing edge portion of the flexiblecovering may be trained over a raised face and stuffed through an inletinto a storage channel. The main distinguishing feature between theTombu patent and U.S. Pat. No. 4,053,008 appears to be the one-piececonstruction of the latter. Tombu includes additional structure directedto a two-piece construction wherein a clamping element is mateablyreceived by a lower element in a "snap-lock" manner.

Other prior art clamping structures are known, for example, U.S. Pat.No. 3,783,931, issued Jan. 8, 1974 to Assael and U.S. Pat. No. 4,403,642issued Sept. 13, 1983 to Morris. Further, numerous clip and splineassemblies for attaching flexible window screens are known in the priorart, such as U.S. Pat. No. 1,772,780 issued Aug. 12, 1930 to Malone,U.S. Pat. No. 2,415,200, issued Feb. 4, 1947 to Willett et al, and U.S.Pat. No. 2,692,017, issued Oct. 15, 1954 to Lang.

Although these prior art structures accomplish the broad objective ofmounting a flexible fabric to a wall, there remains a need for a moldingstrip assembly that is easy to install yet which permits a designer evengreater flexibility in selecting the appearance to be achieved, for awall covering not only provides utilitarian features, but may alsobecome, for the designer, a work of art. In any such system, it isfurther a need that the manufacture of such system be economical so thatit may readily compete with available systems yet, which system willallow ease of installation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a useful and novelwall covering system which may be employed to mount a flexible coveringto a support surface in a variety of design configurations.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a molding stripassembly that is easy to install by having one element thereof receivinga fabric and being attached to another element thereof which may bepremounted to the support surface.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a molding stripassembly that may be used in conjunction with an insulating bat and/oran acoustical bat to cover a surface area in such a manner that heat andnoise transfer is retarded.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a moldingstrip assembly that provides routing channels for items such aselectrical lines, telephone lines and the like.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide amolding strip assembly employing pre-fabricated contour elements so thata variety of design appearances may be obtained upon installationwithout the need for modification of the molding elements to constructdesign configurations heretofor difficult if not impossible to achieve.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a moldingstrip assembly that can be configured into a framework to mount aflexible covering over a desired area to completely cover that area inan asthetically pleasing manner by means of a flexible covering that isheld by a framework by a secure, taut manner.

In order to accomplish these objects, a molding strip assembly asprovided by the present invention which assembly is adapted to securethe edge of a flexible covering to a support surface. While the presentmolding strip assembly could be used to hang a single covering, such asa tapestry or the like, the present assembly is particularly adapted tobe configured into a desired geometrical shape to define a frameworkaround the area to be covered so that a fabric covering sized to coverthe area may be securely held around its perimeter in a taut manner.

In its broad form, the present invention includes two mateable elements:a molding element and a mounting element. The molding element has arelatively flat base wall operative to receive fastening elements sothat the molding element may be attached to a support surface. Aretaining structure extends upwardly from the base wall to form aretaining channel. The mounting element has a raised support wall and alatching structure that extends downwardly from the raised support wallwith the latching structure adapted to be received within the retainingchannel to secure the mounting element onto the molding element. A firstsidewall extends downwardly from the raised support wall in spacedrelation to the latching structure to further orient the support wallwith respect to the base wall of the molding element. The latchingstructure is sized for mated insertion into the retaining channel andthe latching structure is adapted to receive a peripheral edge portionof the covering to retain the edge portion in a fixed relation withrespect to the retaining channel.

In one preferred form of the present invention, the molding element hasa pair of spaced-apart, resilient retaining walls which extend upwardlyfrom a central portion of the base wall and initially converge towardsone another to define the retaining channel. A locking wall extendsupwardly from one edge of the base wall so that it may aid in lockingthe mounting element. In this preferred form, the mounting element hasfirst and second raised support walls which are interconnected to oneanother by a channel structure formed by a pair of downwardly projectingchannel side walls and a channel bottom wall. The channel structure thusdefines the latching structure sized for engagement in the mountingchannel between the retaining walls so that the mounting element issnap-fit into the molding element. The channel structure forms aninterior storage channel to receive the peripheral edge of the covering.

To this end, upon insertion of the channel structure into the retainingchannel, the resilient retaining walls deflect from one another and thensnap back into position around the channel structure. In order tofurther position the raised support walls, the mounting element has afirst wall that extends downwardly from the first support wall toterminate at an edge adjacent the base wall, and a second side wallwhich extends downwardly from the second support wall to terminateadjacent to base wall, with the second side wall being spaced from thechannel structure such that it is biased against the locking wall whenthe mounting element is in the locked position. Thus, the interactionbetween the locking wall and the second side wall, along with thechannel structure and retaining channel, secure the mounting element tothe molding element while positioning the first and second supportwalls.

Fabric may be secured within the storage channel either before or afterthe molding element and the mounting element are locked together. Thus,the flexible covering extends over at least one of the first and secondsupport walls to be mounted within the storage channel. If desired, theother of the support surfaces may be provided with a decorativecovering, or an edge portion of the flexible covering may be trainedover the other of the support surfaces and either be wrapped underneaththe molding element or placed between the locking wall and the secondside wall.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, additional structuralfeatures are provided to enhance this basic molding system. For example,it is preferred that the retaining walls of the molding element, afterfirst converging towards one another, diverge to form an expandablemouth for ease of insertion of the locking structure into the retainingchannel. The side walls of the retaining channel are preferrably biasedagainst each other and serrated to provide a jaw-like inlet so that theflexible covering may be tightly held within the storing channel.Likewise, the facing surfaces of the molding element and the second sidewall of the mounting element have serrations so they will grip againstone another to resist removal of the second side wall. To enhance thisgripping action, an upstanding rib is formed in closely-spaced parallelrelation to the locking wall and is separated therefrom a distanceapproximately equal to the thickness of the second side wall in order todefine a narrow groove that receives the free edge of the side wall.Accordingly, the rib helps lock the second side wall against the lockingwall so that, if desired, a trailing edge of the fabric may be insertedbetween the serrated faces and held thereby. To provide a larger targetarea for the narrow groove, the upward, free edges of the rib and thelocking wall curve outwardly from one another thereby acting as guidesfor the free end of the second side wall as it is inserted into thegroove.

In a modified form of the invention, the molding element includes asecond locking wall extending upwardly from the base wall inclosely-spaced parallel relation thereto to define a second groove. Abase molding is provided as a third element of the assembly, with thebase molding having a top wall and a base side wall that extendsdownwardly therefrom. The base side wall is sized for mated engagementin the second groove to secure the base molding element to the moldingelement so that the top wall projects oppositely the first and secondsupport wall. A base support wall may extend downwardly from the topwall in spaced relation to the base side wall so that it is sized toabut the support surface to orient and support the top wallsubstantially planar to the support surface and generally in the planeof the first and second support walls. Thus, the base molding elementdefines routing channels for electrical lines, telephone cables, and thelike.

As noted above, the preferred embodiment of the present invention isstructured with the idea of forming a framework system about a selectedgeometrical shape. This framework includes selected lengths of themolding elements and the mounting elements which are cut and orientedwith respect to one another to define the perimeter of the area to becovered. In many instances, the area is fairly large, such as a largeauditorium wall, so that it is necessary to include inner moldingelements and inner mounting elements along with the outer molding andmounting elements that define the framework. To simplify the attachmentprocedure, contour elements having the same general cross-section as themounting elements are provided for the intersections of the inner andouter molding elements. Each of these contour elements generally havetwo or more legs that are interconnected to one another at desiredangular orientations, either at sharp angles, or with arcuate curvedmid-sections. Examples of the contour elements include right angle orcontoured elements, right angle radius corner contour pieces, rightdiagonal contour pieces, left diagonal contour pieces, corner diagonalcontour pieces, converging diagonal contour pieces, T-contour pieces andcross contour pieces. In each respect, the various legs are generallyoriented at 45, 90 or 180 degrees with respect to one another so that avariety of design configurations may be readily obtained without theneed to pre-cut the inner and outer molding elements or the inner andouter mounting elements.

These and other objects of the present invention will become morereadily appreciated and understood from a consideration of the followingdetailed description of the preferred embodiment when taken togetherwith the accompanying drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front plan view of the wall coverage system according to thepreferred embodiment of the present invention shown attached to the wallof a room;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a mounting element shown in a lockedposition with a molding element and securing a flexible covering;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the molding element according to thepreferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the mounting element according tothe preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the mounting element of FIG. 4securing a flexible covering with the mounting element in position forinsertion into locked engagement with the molding element shown in FIG.3;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the preferred form of thepresent invention securing a flexible covering along an inside corner;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, in the locked position, showing the preferred methodof attaching a flexible covering to an outside corner;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the mounting assembly accordingto the preferred embodiment of the present invention mounted on a walland supporting a flexible covering in combination with an insulatingbat;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the mounting assembly according tothe preferred embodiment of the present invention shown mounted on awall to secure a flexible covering in combination with an acousticalbat;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of themolding element used with the mounting element according to thepreferred embodiment and also used in conjunction with a base moldingattached thereto;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of another alternate embodiment of themolding element and an alternate embodiment of the mounting element;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a right angle corner contour piece;

FIG. 13 is a top plan view of the right angle corner contour piece shownin FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a top plan view of a radius corner contour piece;

FIG. 15 is a top plan view of a left diagonal contour piece;

FIG. 16 is a top plan view of a right diagonal contour piece;

FIG. 17 is a top plan view of a corner diagonal contour piece;

FIG. 18 is a top plan view of a converging diagonal contour piece;

FIG. 19 is a top plan view of a T-contour piece;

FIG. 20 is a top plan view of a cross-contour piece;

FIGS. 21a-21j are side views in elevation of sample design appearanceswhich may be produced by the molding strip assembly according to thepreferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view showing the mounting assembly of FIG.22 mounted on a wall and supporting a flexible covering in combinationwith an insulating bat;

FIG. 24 shows a modification of the mounting assembly shown in FIG. 2adapted to be used in conjunction with a base molding;

FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view of yet another modification to thepresent invention;

FIG. 26 is a front plan view, partially broken away, of a wall coveringsystem utilizing the assembly shown in either FIG. 22 or FIG. 25; and

FIG. 27 is a perspective view of a right angle corner contour pieceadapted to be used in conjunction with the mounting elements shown ineither FIG. 22 or FIG. 25.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention relates to mounting of flexible coverings to asupport surface, and particularly relates to the attachment of fabricwall coverings in a variety of different designer selectedconfigurations. The support surface may be any open area to be covered,the surface usually takes the form of an interior wall for which afabric panel covering is desired. Accordingly, the present invention isspecifically directed to novel and useful strip assemblies formed bymateable molding and mounting elements which may be cut and connected toone another so that, along with preformed contour pieces, areconstructed into a framework that extends around the perimeter of thearea to be covered; interior strip assemblies allow selected designs tobe created. In addition, the present invention may be used to hangtapestries or other flexible coverings along one or more edges.

While it should be appreciated that the framework formed by the moldingstrip assembly according to the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention may take any generally planar geometric shape, arepresentative square-shaped wall covering assembly is shown in FIG. 1.In this figure, a room 10 has a floor 12, a ceiling 14 and side walls16. A molding strip assembly is mounted around a side wall bounded byfloor 12, ceiling 14 and side wall 16 and includes a plurality ofmolding elements 20 which extend in a square shaped framework aroundroom 10 and include an interior molding strip vertically orientedbetween side wall 16. Thermal bats 18 are affixed to the wall withinthis framework, and a flexible covering in the form of fabric panels 40extend across the framework elements 20 and the vertical element 20.Farbric panels 40 are secured by mounting elements 50, in the mannerdescribed below, with mounting elements 30 adapted to be releasablylocked into molding elements 20. In addition, a right angle cornercontour piece 300 is used to secure the fabric sheets 40 at the cornersof the framework, and T-shaped contour pieces 430 are showninterconnecting the interior molding element 20 with the perimeter ofthe framework.

As is shown in FIG. 2, molding strip assembly 11 includes an elongatedmolding element 20 which releasably locks a mounting element 50 forattachment onto a support surface. Mounting element 50 secures a fabricpanel 40 by receiving a peripheral edge portion adjacent an edge offabric sheet 40 into the interior of mounting element 50 through aninlet 52.

The structure of molding element 20 is best shown in FIGS. 3 and 5,wherein molding element 20 is shown in cross-section. As is shown inthese figures, molding element 20 includes a relatively flat base wall22 that supports, along a central portion thereof, a pair of facing,spaced apart retaining walls 24. Preferably, molding element 20 isformed of a resilient plastic so that retaining walls 24 are resilientand may be deflected away from one another as shown by arrow "A".Resilient walls 24 define a retaining channel 26 that has an hourglasscross-section so that it has a narrowed mid-section 28 formed by firstconverging portions 29 of retaining walls 24 followed by an outwardarcuate divergence to free edges 30. A locking wall 32 extendsvertically upwardly from base wall 22 at an edge 34 thereof to terminatein a free edge 36 that has a curved end. The surface of locking wall 32facing retaining walls 24 is provided with serrations 38, and anupstanding rib 32 is closely spaced to locking wall 32 between wall 32and walls 24 to define a narrow groove 44 between rib 42 and lockingwall 32. Rib 42 has a free edge 46 that is curved so that oppositelycurving edges 36 and 46 define a mouth for groove 44.

Mounting element 50 is best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and includes a firstraised support wall 54 and a second raised support wall 56 that areinterconnected to one another by a latching structure in the form of achannel structure 58 formed by a pair of downwardly extending channelside walls 60 and a channel bottom wall 62. An interior storage channel64 is thus formed, and interior storage channel 64 is accessible throughinlet 52 formed between abutting channel side wall portions 66. Abuttingportions 66 have complimentary facing serrations 68 which engage eachother to define jaws for gripping a fabric sheet 40, as is shown in FIG.5.

Mounting element 50 has a first side wall 70 that extends verticallydownwardly from first based support wall 54 in spaced relation tochannel structure 58 to terminate at a free edge 72. A second side wall74 extends vertically downwardly from second raised support wall 56substantially parallel to side wall 70 and also in spaced relation tochannel structure 58. Second side wall 74 terminates at free edge 76 andis provided with outwardly facing serrations 78.

As is shown in FIG. 5, a peripheral edge portion 80 of fabric sheet 40may be inserted through inlet 52 into interior storage channel 64 sothat the peripheral edge portion 80 is locked by means of the grippingaction between abutting portions 66 of channel side walls 60 and thegripping jaw-like action of serrations 68. Channel structure 58 is sizedfor insertion into retaining channel 26 by insertion through mouth 82.This insertion causes deflection of resilient retaining walls 24 awayfrom one another, as is shown in phantom, as channel structure 58 ispassed through mouth 82 into retaining channel 26.

The mated relationship of mounting element 50 with molding element 20 isshown in FIGS. 6 and 7 which, respectively, illustrate the mounting of afabric sheet 40 against an inside corner and along an outside corner ofa support surface. For example, as is shown in FIG. 6, strip assembly 11is positioned against an inside corner 92 of wall 90 by first attachingmolding element 20 to wall 90 by means of any suitable fasteners, suchas staples 94. As noted above, peripheral edge portion 80 of flexiblefabric sheet 40 is inserted into interior storage channel 64 and is heldin position by the gripping action of abutting portion 66 of channelside wall 60 and serrations 68. When channel structure 58 is in thelocked position shown in FIG. 6, second side wall 74 is inserted intogroove 44 so that serrations 78 face and mate with serrations 38 onlocking wall 32. Accordingly, rib 42 and locking wall 32 are spaced fromone another a distance approximately the thickness of second side wall74.

Further, it should be appreciated that the distance between second sidewall 74 and channel structure 58 is selected so that second side wall 74is biased against locking wall 32 when channel structure 58 is receivedand secured in retaining channel 26. To this end, also, first side wall70 is oriented in spaced relation to locking structure 58 so that, whenchannel structure 58 is in the locked position, free edge 72 of sidewall 70 abuts wall 90 adjacent edge 23 of base wall 22. Free edge 76 ofsecond side wall 74 is then located at the bottom of groove 44. The tailportion 41 of fabric sheet 40 may now be slipped between wall 90 and theexterior surface of locking wall 32 without the need of any tool otherthan a putty knife or straight edge, in this manner fabric sheet 40 isheld taut across first raised support wall 54, with tail portion 41being supported by second support wall 56.

By providing outwardly diverging free edges 30, bottom wall 62 ofchannel structure 58 may be inserted through mouth 82 of channel 26 sothat side wall 60 may deflect retaining walls 24 from one another toallow insertion of channel structure 58 therein. Further, by providingcurved free edges 36 and 46, free edge 76 of second side wall 74 isguided into groove 44. It should further be appreciated from a review ofFIG. 6, that, when free edge 76 is at the bottom of groove 44 and freeedge 72 abuts wall 90, bottom wall 62 is spaced a sufficient distanceabove bottom wall 22 so that fastener 94 does not contact bottom wall 62and thereby interfere with the insertion of channel structure 58 intoretaining channel 26.

The mounting of fabric sheet 40 along an outside corner 98 of wall 90 isshown in FIG. 7, and it should be appreciated that the securing ofmounting element 50 into molding element 20 is the same as thatdescribed with respect to FIG. 6. In FIG. 7, however, channel assembly11 is positioned so that free edge 72 of side wall 70 is orientedadjacent corner 96 so that tail 41 may be trained over raised supportwall 54, downwardly along side wall 70, and tucked underneath bottomwall 22 between bottom wall 22 and wall 90. Thus, fabric sheet 40extends across the area to be covered, is locked into channel 64, andthen extends around mounting element 50 so that fabric extends alongmounting element 50 to a location immediately adjacent corner 96.

It should now be appreciated that the desired area to be covered may beprovided with a perimeter framework of strip assemblies 11 formed bylengths of outer molding elements 20 and outer mounting elements 50 thatmay be locked together. Where either a large area is to be covered ordesign variety desired, inner strip assemblies 11 constructed of innermolding and mounting elements may be fastened across the perimeterframework. Additionally, fabric sheet 40 could be defined by a pluralityof separate fabric panels. Insulating bats or acoustical bats may beplaced on the interior of the framework with these bats then beingcovered by a fabric sheet 40 held by the strip assemblies in the mannerdescribed above. The use of strip assembly 11 with a thermal bat 100 isshown in FIG. 8 wherein bat 100 is mounted to wall 90 between wall 90and fabric panel 40. Likewise, the use of strip assembly 11 with anacoustical bat 102 is shown in FIG. 9 wherein bat 102 is mounted to wall90 between wall 90 and fabric panel 4.

A modified mounting element 120 is shown in FIG. 10 with this mountingelement 120 adapted to permit the use of a supplementary base element150. As is shown in FIG. 10, molding element 120 is formed similarlywith molding element 20, and has a base wall 122 which mounts a pair ofupstanding resilient retaining walls 124 that are constructed the sameas retaining walls 24, described above. An upstanding locking wall 132projects upwardly from base wall 122 in spaced relation to retainingwalls 124 and an upstanding rib 142 is formed substantially parallel tolocking wall 132 in closely spaced relation thereto to define a groove144 therebetween. Retaining walls 124 define a retaining channel 126which is adapted to receive a locking structure 58 of mounting element50, described above. Thus, side wall 74 of mounting element 50 isinsertable into groove 144 and is locked therein by means of serrations138 on locking wall 132, and tail 41 of fabric 40 is retained at aninner region between walls 74 and 132. A second locking wall 135 ispositioned in closely spaced relation to locking wall 132 on a sidethereof opposite rib 142. Locking walls 132 and 135 thus define a secondgroove 145. Second locking wall 135 has serrations 139 facing lockingwall 132.

Base molding element 150 has a top wall 152 that is supported againstwall 90 by means of a base support wall 154 having a free edge 156 thatabuts wall 90. Base support wall 154 has a height such that top wall 152is positioned a distance from wall 90 that is equal to the distance ofsupport walls 54 and 56 from wall 90 when mounting element 50 is in thelocked position with respect to molding element 120. Base moldingelement 150 has a downwardly projecting base side wall 158 that has afree edge 160 adapted to be inserted into groove 145 so that free edge160 is adjacent the bottom of groove 145. Side wall 150 is provided withserrations 162 which mate with serrations 139 so that side wall 158 islockably engaged between locking wall 135 and locking wall 132 in groove145. To facilitate insertion of side wall 158 into groove 145, free edge164 of locking wall 135 is curved to provide an entry way for groove145. Top wall 152 terminates in a free edge 166 opposite side wall 158so that edge 166 may abut floor 12 when side wall 158 is locked bymolding element 120. In this manner, a routing channel 170 is definedbetween wall 90, top wall 152, side wall 158 and support wall 154.Routing channel 170 may be used to route electrical lines, such astelephone cable 172, so that cable 172 is hidden from view yet isreadily accessible by removal of base molding element 150.

A second alternate embodiment of the molding strip assembly is shown inFIG. 11 wherein strip assembly 211 is formed by molding element 220 andmounting element 250. Moulding element 220 has a base wall 222 fromwhich a pair of upwardly extending resilient retaining walls 224 extend.Retaining walls 224 define a retaining channel 226 and include facingmid-sections 228 formed as retaining walls 224 converge towards oneanother. Retaining walls 224 are upwardly divergent from mid-sections220 to define a mouth 282, with retaining walls 224 terminating at freeedges 230. An upstanding locking wall 232 is formed along edge 234 ofbottom wall 222 and terminates in a curved free edge 236. Locking wall232 is provided with serrations 238.

Mounting element 250 is similar to mounting element 50 except that firstand second support walls 254 and 256 are relatively planar and areparallel to bottom wall 222 of molding element 220 when mounting element250 is in the locked position with respect to molding element 220. Tothis end, support walls 254 and 256 are interconnected by a downwardlyextending channel structure 258 formed by a pair of side walls 260 thatdefine a triangularly shaped interior storage channel 264 by beinginterconnected by a channel bottom wall 262. Channel side walls 260 haveabutting portions 266 provided with serrations 268, and an inlet 252 isthus provided for interior storage channel 264. Channel structure 258 isadapted to be received in retaining channel 226 so that molding element220 and mounting element 250 are in a locked position. To this end also,support wall 256 has a downwardly extending side wall 270 thatterminates in an inwardly turned edge 272 adjacent edge 223 of bottomwall 222. A second side wall 274 extends downwardly from second supportsurface 256 and is spaced from channel structure 258 so that, in thelocked position, side wall 274 is biased against locking wall 232. Sidewall 274 is provided with serrations 278 which mate with serrations 238in the manner described with respect to the preferred embodiment.Inwardly turned edge 272 is adjacent bottom wall 222 at edge 223 whenstrip assembly 211 is in the locked position and rests against shoulder275. Shoulder 275 and edge 272 cooperate to give structural rigidity forpreventing unwanted opening of inlet 252.

While the above structure provides the basic system for forming aframework around an area to be covered so that a flexible covering canbe mounted over an area in a taut manner, the ease of installation anddesign variety may be achieved by employing prefabricated contour piecessuch as the contour pieces shown in FIGS. 12-20. In FIG. 12, aperspective view of a right angle corner contour piece is shown, whileFIGS. 13-20 show top plan views of the various contour pieces, and itshould be appreciated that the cross-section of each contour element maybe the same as the cross-section of the mounting element, such as shownin FIG. 4 or representatively by the contour piece of FIG. 12. Thus,each contour element has a latching structure insertable into theretaining channel and locked into position on molding elements 20 in amanner similar to each of mounting elements 50. Further, each contourelement may be seen to include two or more legs oriented at angles toone another.

As is shown then in FIGS. 12 and 13, a right angle contour piece 300 isformed by first and second legs 302 and 304 oriented at right angleswith respect to one another. Accordingly, a right angle inlet 306 isformed between the channel side walls 303 and 305 of the latching orchannel structure 307, which is the same as the channel structure 58described above. Contour piece 300 thus includes third and fourth raisedsupport walls 311 and 313 which are connected to one another by means ofchannel structure 307, and a pair of sidewalls 315 and 317 extenddownwardly from support walls 311 and 313, respectively, in the mannerdescribed with respect to sidewalls 70 and 74. As is shown in FIG. 12and in FIG. 1, when right angle contour piece 300 is utilized, it is notnecessary for molding elements 20 to extend completely under the entiresurface of contour piece 300. Rather, as is shown in phantom, moldingelements 20 may have squared off ends 308 for substantially the distancebetween edge 310 of arm 302 and edge 312 of arm 304 to corner 314. Thisleaves an open region, such as region 21 shown in FIG. 1, betweenadjacent ends of the molding elements. Accordingly, right angle contourpiece 300 may be locked into the position by the snap-fitting of theassociated channel structure of arms 302 and 304 into molding elements20. A flexible covering may then be mounted thereto by inserting aperipheral edge portion through inlet 306, with any remaining pucker inthe material being inserted underneath channel piece 300 through an openslot 316.

In FIG. 14, a radius corner contour piece 320 is shown having oppositearms 322 and 324 which project at right angles to one another. Again,molding piece 20 underlies an arm portion of radius piece 320 so that itmay be locked onto molding pieces 20 by means of its associated channelstructure between retaining walls 24. Radius contour piece 320 has anarctuate slot 326 adapted to receive a peripheral edge portion of aflexible wall covering with slot 326 defining an entryway into theinterior storage channel of the channel structure of radius contourpiece 320. Again, any excess material in the form of a pucker may beinserted into the interior of radius piece 320 through one or more slots328.

FIGS. 15 and 16 show left and right diagonal contour pieces,respectively. As is shown in FIG. 15, left diagonal contour piece 330includes a main body portion 332 that is adapted to be received by amolding element 20 extending completely thereunder. To this end, mainbody 332 includes a channel structure that is received between retainingwalls 24 of molding elements 20. A diagonal leg 334 projects from mainbody 332 at a 45° thereto and may be mounted on a similar moldingelement 20 that terminates at edge 336 so that it underlies an endportion of leg 334. Leg 334 is provided with a channel structure thatterminates, as is shown in phantom, at 338, so that the channelstructure of leg 336 does not interfere with retaining walls 24 ofmolding strip 20 that underlies main body 332. Main body 332 has a slot340 adapted to allow insertion of a peripheral edge portion of aflexible covering into its channel structure, and, similarly, legportion 334 is provided with an inlet 342. First and second slots 344and 346 are provided at a central location of the projected intersectionof leg 334 with main body 332 to allow any excess material to beinserted underneath contour element 330.

As is shown in FIG. 16, right diagonal contour piece 350 includes a mainbody portion 352 that is adapted to be received by a molding element 20extending completely thereunder. To this end, main body 352 includes achannel structure that is received between retaining walls 24 of moldingelements 20. A diagonal leg 354 projects from main body 352 at 45°thereto and may be mounted on a similar molding element 20 thatterminates at edge 356 so that it underlies an end portion of leg 354.Leg 354 is provided with a channel structure that terminates, as isshown in phantom, at 358, so that the channel structure of leg 356 doesnot interfere with retaining walls 24 of molding strip 20 that underliesmain body 352. Main body 352 has a slot 360 adapted to allow insertionof a peripheral edge portion of a flexible covering into its channelstructure, and, similarly, leg portion 354 is provided with an inlet362. First and second slots 364 and 366 are provided at a centrallocation to the projected intersection of leg 354 with main body 352 toallow any excess material to be inserted underneath contour element 350.

FIG. 17 is a top plan view of a corner diagonal contour piece that is ahybridization of the corner piece shown in FIG. 12 along with a diagonalpiece such as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. Here, corner diagonal contourpiece 370 has right angle legs 372 and 374 that are bisected by adiagonal leg 376. Each of legs 372, 374 and 376 may be lockably receivedin an associated molding element 20 in the manner that now should bereadily understood. Legs 372, 374 and 376 respectively, are providedwith inlets 378, 380 and 382 to allow insertion of fabric into theirrespective channel structures, and, again, a slot 384 is provided forexcess material.

FIG. 18 shows a top plan view of a converging diagonal piece of 390 thatis a hybridization of left and right diagonal pieces 330 and 350.Converging diagonal piece 390 has a main body 392 that may be mounted atany convenient location along a single molding piece 20. A firstdiagonal leg 394 is oriented at a 45° angle to main body 392, and asecond diagonal leg 396 is also oriented at a 45° angle with respect tomain body 392, with legs 394 and 396 being oriented at right angles toeach other. The channel structure of main body 392, shown in phantom,terminates at edges 398 and 400 and the channel structures of legs 394and 396 terminate, as shown in phantom, at edges 402 and 404,respectively. In this manner, the channel structures do not interferewith retaining walls 24 on any of the molding elements 20. Main body 392is provided with slots with inlets 408 and 410, and an open slot 412extends between inlets 408 and 410. Leg 394 is provided with a slot 414,while leg 396 is provided with a slot 416 allowing the insertion of aflexible covering into the channel structure, and again a slot 420 maybe provided to receive excess material.

FIG. 19 shows a T-contour piece 430 having a main body 432 that isreceived by a molding element 20, and a right angle leg 434 projectslaterally thereof. Leg 434 also receives a molding element 20, so thatT-contour piece 430 may be mounted to the respective molding elements20. Main body 432 has a slot 436, while leg 434 has an inlet 438 adaptedto receive the flexible material into its associated channel structure,and an excess fabric slot 440 is provided.

Finally, FIG. 20 shows a cross-contour piece 450 comprised of fouridentical legs 452 oriented at right angles. As is shown, by way ofexample, a leg 452 may receive and be locked by a molding element 20,with each of legs 452 being provided with an inlet 454 to receive fabricinto their associated channel structures (not shown). An open, X-shapedslotted region 456 is centrally located on cross-contour piece 450 toreceive excess material therein.

Based on the foregoing, it should be appreciated that, by using thecontour pieces that are shown in FIGS. 12-20, great flexibility ofdesign may be attained while maintaining ease of assembly andinstallation onto a support surface. FIGS. 21(a)-21(j) shows sampledesign configurations for fabric coverings on a rectangular wall. Thesesamples are by way of example, since the possible configurations arelimitless. Further, each of the FIGS. 21(a)-21(j) are labelled withtheir respective contour pieces in order to make clear the designconstruction.

In all the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-21, it should be noted that theinlet for the channel structure is located between a pair of supportwalls. When a covering is secured to a support surface by theseassemblies, a detail or shadow line extends concentricly with the areato be covered, and is spaced from the perimeter of the area covered by adistance that corresponds to the width of the second support wall. Inorder to eliminate this detail line, an alternate embodiment of thepresent invention is shown in FIGS. 22 and 23. Here, molding assembly610 is formed by means of a molding element 620 and a mounting element650 that is secured to molding element 620 by means of a latchingstructure 658, described below.

With more particularity, molding element 620 includes a base wall 622that includes an upwardly extending retaining structure or channel. InFIGS. 22 and 23, this retaining structure is formed by a locking wall624 that extends upwardly along one edge of base wall 622 and aretaining wall 626 which extends upwardly in spaced relation to lockingwall 624 from base wall 622. Retaining wall 626 is configured similarlyto retaining walls 24, in the preferred embodiment, and includes a firstportion 628 that converges toward locking wall 624 to terminate in anoutwardly divergent end portion 630. Thus, retaining wall 626 andlocking wall 624 define a retaining channel 632 therebetween. Base wall622 has an edge 625 opposite locking wall 624 that includes an upwardlyturned shoulder 627.

Mounting element 650 includes a single raised support wall 652 that isoriented above base wall 622 when mounting element 650 is secured tomolding element 620 in the locked position shown in FIGS. 22 and 23. Tofacilitate this orientation, a first sidewall 654 extends downwardlyfrom raised support wall 652 and terminates in an inwardly turned foot655 adapted to abut shoulder 627 of molding element 620. A latchingstructure 656 extends downwardly from raised support wall 652 in spacedapart relation to first sidewall 654. Latching structure 656 is sizedfor mated insertion into retaining channel 632 in order to lock mountingelement 650 onto molding element 620. Further, latching structure 656 isadapted to receive a peripheral edge portion 658 of flexible covering660 to retain that edge portion in a fixed relation with respect to theretaining channel 632.

As is shown in FIGS. 22 and 23, mounting structure 656 is preferablyformed by a second sidewall that terminates in a lower foot 662 thatcontacts locking wall 624 at point along location 664. This secondsidewall includes a first segment 666 that extends upwardly from foot662 to contact retaining wall 626 at location 668, as is shown in FIG.23. A second sidewall section 670 extends upwardly from segment 666 tocontact locking wall 624 at contact area 672. A third sidewall segment674 extends upwardly from second segment 670 and extends between contactarea 672 and support wall 656. It should thus be appreciated, from FIGS.22 and 23, that latching structure 656 is configured to snap-fit intoretaining channel 632 so that mounting element 650 is locked ontomolding element 620.

As is shown in FIG. 23, a fastening element 680 may be used to fastenbase wall 622 onto a support surface, and, when mounting element 650 issecured to molding element 620, a flexible covering 660 will bestretched across support wall 652 so that its peripheral edge 658 may bestuffed into region 680 in retaining channel 632. Contact area 672 isserrated to further grip flexible covering 660. The abutted relationshipof foot 655 and shoulder 627 accordingly act to prevent separation ofcontact area 672. An insulating bat 682 may be provided as was describedwith respect to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 24 modifies the molding element shown in FIGS. 22 and 23 so thatbase molding element 150 may be secured by mounting element 720 shown inFIG. 24. Here, base wall 722 includes a second locking wall 725 that isspaced from first locking wall 724 to define a relatively narrow groove727 therebetween. Groove 727 is adapted to receive sidewall 158 of basemolding 150 and, to this end, includes serrations 730. The remainingstructure of base molding 720 is the same as that described with respectto FIGS. 22 and 23.

A modification to the base molding and mounting elements of FIGS. 22 and23 is shown in FIG. 25. In FIG. 25, base molding 800 includes a lockingwall 824 and a retaining wall 826 that define retaining channel 832therebetween. Molding element 850 includes a raised support wall 852that is positioned by means of a first sidewall 854 that terminates infoot 855, and a latching structure 856 insertable into retaining channel832. In this embodiment, though, latching structure 856 is formed by afirst channel sidewall 860 and a second channel sidewall 862 that areconnected to one another by a channel bottom wall 864. First channelsidewall 860 extends downwardly from support wall 852, and secondchannel sidewall 862 extends upwardly alongside first channel sidewall860 to define a storage channel 870 therebetween. Thus, sidewall portion872 of first channel sidewall 860, and sidewall portion 874 of secondchannel sidewall 862 contact one another to define a pair of serratedjaws through which an edge portion of the flexible covering may beinserted. Accordingly, it should be appreciated that latching structure856 is similar in operation to channel structure 58 described withrespect to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

When either molding assemblies 610 or 810 are used for a wall covering,as is shown in FIG. 26, the peripheral edge of the fabric extendscompletely across the area to be covered and a more detailed line isformed. It should further be appreciated that contour elements such ascontour elements described with respect to FIGS. 12-20 may be providedto cooperate with the molding elements 620 and 820. An example of onesuch molding element is shown in FIG. 27, as a right angle cornercontour piece 900, and it should be appreciated that all of the contourpieces described above could be provided with respect to this embodimentof the invention.

However, as is shown in FIG. 27, right angle corner contour piece 900includes a first and second legs 902 and 904 which are oriented at rightangles with respect to one another. Each of legs 902 and 904 includes afirst sidewall 906 which extends downwardly from raised support wall 908and terminates in an inwardly turned foot 907. A latching structure 910depends downwardly from support wall 908 and is configured in the samemanner as latching structure 656, described above. Accordingly, rightangle corner contour piece 900 may replace mounting elements 650 at aright angle intersection of molding elements 620 for ease ofinstallation. Thus, it should be appreciated that the prefabricatedcontour pieces may be employed at the various intersections betweenmolding elements, such as molding elements 620 or 820.

Accordingly, the present invention has been described with some degreeof particularity directed to the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention. It should be appreciated, though, that the present inventionis defined by the following claims construed in light of the prior artso that modifications or changes may be made to the preferred embodimentof the present invention without departing from the inventive conceptscontained herein.

I claim:
 1. A molding strip assembly adapted to secure an edge of aflexible covering to a surface to which the molding strip assembly isattached, comprising:a molding element having a relatively flat basewall operative to receive fastening elements for attaching said moldingelement to the surface, a locking wall extending upwardly from said basewall, and a retaining wall extending upwardly from said base wall, saidlocking wall and said retaining wall shaped with respect to one anotherto define a retaining channel; and a mounting element having a raisedsupport wall, a first side wall extending downwardly from said raisedsupport wall and a latching structure extending downwardly from saidraised support wall in spaced relation to said first sidewall, saidlatching structure sized for mated insertion into said retaining channelto lock said mounting element onto said molding element in a lockedposition, said latching structure including a first segment extendingbetween and contacting the retaining wall and the locking wall in thelocked position and means for supporting said first segment above saidbase wall when the latching structure is in the locked position, saidlatching structure operative along with said first sidewall to positionsaid support wall above said base wall, said latching structure adaptedto receive a peripheral edge portion of said covering to retain saidedge portion in a fixed relation with respect to said retaining channel.2. A molding strip assembly according to claim 1 wherein said latchingstructure is formed by a second sidewall extending downwardly from saidraised support wall in spaced relation to said first sidewall, saidsecond sidewall configured to extend between and contact both saidlocking wall and said retaining wall when inserted into said retainingchannel, such that the contact area of said locking wall and said secondsidewall define jaws through which the peripheral edge of the coveringmay be inserted and gripped whereby the covering is secured to theassembly.
 3. A molding strip assembly according to claim 2 wherein theportions of said locking wall and said second sidewall at said contactarea are provided with mating serrations to facilitate gripping of thecovering thereby.
 4. A molding strip assembly according to claim 3wherein said second sidewall terminates at a lower end in a foot thatcontacts said locking wall adjacent said base wall when in the lockedposition, and has a second segment extending upwardly from said foot tocontact said retaining wall, said first segment extending upwardly fromsaid second segment to contact said locking wall at said contact areaand a third segment extending upwardly from said first segment to saidsupport wall, said foot and said second segment defining said means forsupporting said first segment.
 5. A system for covering a supportsurface, comprising:outer molding elements adapted to be configured intoa desired geometric framework on said support surface to define an areato be covered, each said outer molding element having a relatively flatbase wall operative to receive fastening elements for attaching eachsaid outer molding element to the surface, a locking wall extendingupwardly from said base wall and a retaining wall extending upwardlyfrom said base wall, said locking wall and said retaining wall shapedwith respect to one another to define a retaining channel; outermounting elements securable to respective ones of said outer moldingelements, each outer mounting element having a raised support wall, afirst sidewall extending downwardly from said raised support wall and alatching structure extending downwardly from said raised support wall inspaced relation to said first sidewall, said latching structure sizedfor mated insertion in the retaining channel of its respective moldingelement to resiliently lock said mounting element onto said moldingelement in a locked position, each said latching structure including asegment extending between and contacting the retaining wall and thelocking wall in the locked position and means for supporting saidsegment above the base wall of its respective outer molding element whenthe latching structure is in the locked position, said latchingstructure operative along with said first sidewall to position saidsupport wall above its respective said base wall; and a flexiblecovering having dimensions slightly larger than the dimensions of thearea to be covered to present excess edge portions around the outerperimeter of the framework, said covering being mounted across saidframework by training the covering over the support walls and insertingsaid excess edge portions into the interior channels of said latchingstructures around said framework, each said latching structure adaptedto receive a peripheral edge portion of said covering to retain saidedge portion in a fixed relation with respect to its respective saidretaining channel.
 6. A system for covering a support surface accordingto claim 5 wherein said covering is formed of at least two panels havingfacing panel edge portions located interiorly of said area, andincluding interior molding elements and interior mounting elementsconstructed the same as said outer mounting elements, respectively, saidfacing panel edge portions insertable into the latching structure of theinterior mounting elements to mount said panels thereto.
 7. A system forcovering a support surface according to claim 5 including an acousticalbat between said covering and said support surface.
 8. A system forcovering a support surface according to claim 5 including an acousticalbat between said covering and said support surface.
 9. A system forcovering a support surface according to claim 6 including contourelements securable to respective ones of said inner and outer moldingelements at locations wherein said inner and outer molding elementsintersect with one another, each said contour element having at leasttwo leg portions oriented at an angle with respect to one another, eachsaid leg portion having a leg sidewall extending downwardly from asecond raised support wall and a latching structure extending downwardlyfrom said second raised support wall in spaced relation to said legsidewall and sized for mated insertion in the retaining channels ofrespective molding elements and for receiving and gripping a peripheraledge portion of the covering.
 10. A system for covering a supportsurface according to claim 9 wherein said contour elements are selectedfrom a group consisting of right angle contour pieces, radius cornercontour pieces, left diagonal contour pieces, right diagonal contourpieces, corner diagonal contour pieces, converging diagonal contourpieces, T-contour pieces, and cross-contour pieces.